XP and Norton Internet Security

[Mary]

I am confused. I have Windows XP and have just purchased
the Norton Internet Security 2004 Upgrade. I now see
that I already do have Microsoft Windows XP Internet
Connection Firewall and Automatic Updates and just need
to install antivirus software. At Symantec's support site
(http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/nip.nsf/docid/200005
3008391436) I read a warning to Windows NT, 2000 and XP
servers that no version of Norton Internet is supported
on these systems.
--Meanwhile my Norton Internet Security warns me that I
must activate it within 14 days or I will lose the
ability to do so. Can I only activate the Norton
Antivirus portion of the program --this is what it sounds
like I am being cautioned to do. However, even when I
open Norton Antivirus I see that it activates Autoprotect
when Windows starts up. Is this whole system incompatible
with XP? Are parts of it incompatible? Can somebody help
me understand? Thanks. Mary

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

I am confused. I have Windows XP and have just purchased
the Norton Internet Security 2004 Upgrade. I now see
that I already do have Microsoft Windows XP Internet
Connection Firewall and Automatic Updates and just need
to install antivirus software. At Symantec's support site
(http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/nip.nsf/docid/200005
3008391436) I read a warning to Windows NT, 2000 and XP
servers that no version of Norton Internet is supported
on these systems.

Norton Internet Security is fully compatible with your computer.

That web page says that Norton is incompatible with the server
versions of Windows NT, 2000, and XP. Those versions are called
"Windows NT Server, "Windows 2000 Server", and "Windows Server 2003",
and home computers don't have them.

Home computers have Windows XP Home Edition or Windows XP
Professional, which are client versions, not server versions. Norton
is fully compatible with them.

--Meanwhile my Norton Internet Security warns me that I
must activate it within 14 days or I will lose the
ability to do so. Can I only activate the Norton
Antivirus portion of the program --this is what it sounds
like I am being cautioned to do. However, even when I
open Norton Antivirus I see that it activates Autoprotect
when Windows starts up. Is this whole system incompatible
with XP? Are parts of it incompatible? Can somebody help
me understand? Thanks. Mary

Activate Autoprotect! It's necessary for real-time protection against
viruses.

You only need one firewall. I'd install and activate Norton's
Firewall, then disable XP's Internet Connection Firewall.

Activate the product within 14 days.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[Guest]

You have 'bought into' a very clever marketing ploy of Norton's.

Internet Security is not mandatory. It is also a problem if you have a PC
with NIS and it is attempting to log onto a domain.

It contains essentially 1] A Firewall and 2] an Anti Virus application and
3] Spam Filtering

OK now, Microsoft has Windows XP SP1: with a built in firewall. So you
think OK why not get Norton's an install the other two.

Forget it, from everthing I have read, Windows SP2 which is now available,
has a great firewall and good Spam Filtering in Outlook Express and Outlook
2003. So send back the Norton's.

YES: uninstall all of Norton's Internet Security, the whole lot. Then turn
off your PC.

The very next half hour. Go back to the dealer, tell them you were
'oversold' and only need the anti-virus application.

Then go home and install an Anti-Virus application: now you will have a
cleaner computer and have less conflict with applications that want to
perform the same tasks and functions.

However should you be part of a work domain, then ask your IT department
what they would recommend you use for Anti Virus, so as not to conflict with
the corporate standards and operating environment.

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

You have 'bought into' a very clever marketing ploy of Norton's.

Internet Security is not mandatory. It is also a problem if you have a PC
with NIS and it is attempting to log onto a domain.

It contains essentially 1] A Firewall and 2] an Anti Virus application and
3] Spam Filtering

OK now, Microsoft has Windows XP SP1: with a built in firewall. So you
think OK why not get Norton's an install the other two.

Forget it, from everthing I have read, Windows SP2 which is now available,
has a great firewall and good Spam Filtering in Outlook Express and Outlook
2003. So send back the Norton's.

YES: uninstall all of Norton's Internet Security, the whole lot. Then turn
off your PC.

The very next half hour. Go back to the dealer, tell them you were
'oversold' and only need the anti-virus application.

Then go home and install an Anti-Virus application: now you will have a
cleaner computer and have less conflict with applications that want to
perform the same tasks and functions.

However should you be part of a work domain, then ask your IT department
what they would recommend you use for Anti Virus, so as not to conflict with
the corporate standards and operating environment.

I mostly agree with you about Norton Internet Security. I just
downloaded and installed a 90-day trial version of it on a Windows XP
Service Pack 2 computer.

I noticed these things in particular:

1. The Norton download is huge: over 34 megabytes.

2. Installing and configuring the antivirus program took far longer
and was more complicated than doing the same thing with eTrust EZ
Antivirus.

3. Installing and configuring the firewall program took far longer and
was more complicated than doing the same thing with ZoneAlarm.

Outlook Express doesn't do spam filtering, even in Service Pack 2. OE
SP2 does have new features that can block potentially dangerous file
attachments and prevent pictures (web beacons) from downloading.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com